Thomas Kocherry was born in Changanasserry, Kerala, an inland fishing community, the fifth in a family of 11 children. Thomas holds a B.Sc in Chemistry, and an LLB from Kerala University. He is also an ordained priest. Since 1971, Thomas has worked with Bangladeshi refugees and fisher communities, organizing nurseries and tuition classes for the children, regular health clinics and medical camps. He helped found the Kerala Independent Fishworkers Federation, and served as chairperson of the National Fishworkers Forum from 1982 to 1996. He has mobilized thousands of people to fight against destructive fishing and water pollution, organized communities around the right to fish, and organized fisher people to push for a stronger voice in Indian fishing policy.

Thomas has also served as the General Coordinator of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples and has helped organize the World Summit of Sustainable Development. He is a co-convener of the National Alliance of Peoples’ Movements, a national network of community struggles in India, and is also a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer and the elected representative from India for the General Chapter. Tom teaches the theology and the spirituality of People's movements in a number of seminaries in India.

Thomas has been very active in the Relief and Rehabilitation work among the Tsunami Victims since 26th December, 2004. He has been involved in the planning of the rehabilitation work in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India. He had a campaign in different universities in the USA during the month of April, 2005, and consulted with the UN throughout the rehabilitation.